Not even 24 hours into NBA free agency, and Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti is making quite the impact.
It’s been a busy Monday as the Thunder is reportedly bringing back key role players Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins on new contracts, while also making arguably the biggest free-agent signing in team history with former New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.
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The added some interior help Monday, July 1, reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $87-million contract with Knicks free-agent center Isaiah Hartenstein.
OKC likely remains committed to Chet Holmgren as its primary center. Holmgren and Hartenstein will obviously share the floor at times — but the Thunder spend didn’t up $30 million/year just for Hartenstein to play the minutes Holmgren sits — but it’s about matchup versatility than anything else.
And yes: iHart isn’t a five-out big. But he’s a notable 4-out-1 in big with his screen setting and playmaking. All it tells me is that Presti isn’t married to the 5-out thing, he’d rather have possibilities. I imagine it’ll be a lot of dribble handoff/pick-and-roll, post hub stuff when iHart is in.
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Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins staying with Thunder on new contract
The Thunder reportedly declined teams options for reserve guards Isaiah Joe ($2.1 million) and Aaron Wiggins ($2 million) over the weekend with the intention to bring them back on longer deals.
That happened on Monday, July 1.
Joe is reportedly returning to OKC on a four-year, $48-million contact; while Wiggins reportedly agreed to a five-year, $47-million contract.
